What's the most important thing you need in marriage? Communication! But nobody told Ethan Frome this, a stoic man who felt obligated to marry the woman who nursed his mother. His wife becomes a tedious hypochondriac and when the young, vital Mattie comes to stay with them, Ethan can't help but fall in love with her. And mayhem ensues, but think early 1900s mayhem, not 2008 mayhem. The ending of the story is a classic "and here is the moral of the story" which includes a lesson to be learned from each of the characters' choices.I would actually give the writing 5 stars and the novel can be enjoyed for that alone.